Is Rishikesh safe?
Calm and welcoming compared with most of India. Main risks are river and rafting accidents, monkeys, scams in ashram offers, and some harassment of women on quiet paths.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-06-15.
- Homicide rate in India: 2.8 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in India: 15.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Rishikesh at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Petty theft from hostels and beaches, overcharging, fake gurus, and occasional harassment of women along isolated riverside paths. |
| At night | Most of the town winds down by 10 pm; main roads are safe. Avoid empty ghats and riverside beaches after dark. |
| Solo women | One of the more relaxed towns for solo women, but unwanted comments happen on quiet paths. Dress modestly and avoid isolated beaches at night. |
| Other risks | Rafting and river currents, especially after rain; Monsoon landslides on the road from Dehradun; Cold nights in Dec–Jan |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake gurus charging high fees for yoga or 'healing' sessions
- Unlicensed rafting operators cutting safety corners
- Cab drivers quoting high fixed prices for airport transfers
- Teacher-training schools with no accreditation
Take care
- Rafting with operators lacking safety gear or certified guides
- Isolated riverside paths and beaches after dark
- Monkeys near bridges: they grab food and bags
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Satellite phones and satellite messengers like Garmin inReach are illegal without a licence; travelers have been arrested at airports.
- Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram; beef is illegal in many states.
- Drones need registration and permission; photographing military sites, airports and bridges can lead to detention.
How Rishikesh compares in India
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kochi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kolkata | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hyderabad | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dharamshala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Leh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chennai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pondicherry | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Varkala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hampi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amritsar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jodhpur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jaisalmer | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pushkar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palolem | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darjeeling | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Munnar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alleppey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Andaman Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Shimla | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Delhi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Goa | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mumbai | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Jaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Agra | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Varanasi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Bangalore | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Udaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Manali | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Anjuna | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Rishikesh safe for solo female travelers?
One of the more relaxed towns for solo women, but unwanted comments happen on quiet paths. Dress modestly and avoid isolated beaches at night.
Is Rishikesh safe at night?
Most of the town winds down by 10 pm; main roads are safe. Avoid empty ghats and riverside beaches after dark.
What is the crime rate in Rishikesh?
Petty theft from hostels and beaches, overcharging, fake gurus, and occasional harassment of women along isolated riverside paths. Nationally, India records 2.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Rishikesh?
Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
More about Rishikesh
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Uttarakhand Tourism
- AIIMS Rishikesh
- Dehradun Airport (Airports Authority of India)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.